Michigan football coach Brady Hoke has received many kudos for restoring the Wolverines' reputation on the recruiting front.

But triumphs on national signing day have rarely been an issue for Michigan. It's how the classes mesh together on the field which hasn't always worked according to plan.

The Wolverines' 2013 recruiting class - ranked by virtually every recruiting service among the Top 10 nationally, and second in the Big Ten behind only Ohio State - will be put to the test quickly.

Advertisement

The focus: On the offensive skill position players the Wolverines inked Wednesday on national signing day - particularly running back and receiver.

Michigan State is in a similar situation, not necessarily lacking good players overall, but in need of playmakers on offense. But for the Spartans, the issue is mostly running back. Their receivers were not productive last season, but they were young - and virtually all of them are returning.

It is what will make or break this recruiting class for this state's Big Ten football programs.

The Wolverines were shockingly lacking at running back last season. Their receiving corps was shallow in regard to depth, as well.

It was masked a bit. Regardless of whether you believe Denard Robinson was one of Michigan's all-time great quarterbacks, or just a bad passer, who should have been playing running back all along, it's undeniable his value as a playmaker.

Late in the season, Michigan got a few big plays from receiver Jeremy Gallon, a shorter receiver, who developed a remarkable propensity for out-jumping defensive backs in tight coverage. He'll be back. Roy Roundtree, though, has used up his eligibility. After that, it's possession receiver Drew Dileo. At running back, Fitzgerald Toussaint had a terrific season in 2011, but seemed to get bogged down after having legal issues, and then suffered a serious knee injury late in the year. Michigan has recruited a number of highly regarded backs in recent years. Thomas Rawls and Justice Hayes did get on the field. They weren't very productive.

It's why Derrick Green, the five-star recruit from Virginia Michigan landed in this class, is so celebrated. His final choices were Tennessee, Auburn and Michigan - all places designed for him to play immediately. The success of this recruiting class for UM could be as simple as Green becoming a starter from Day 1, and giving Michigan the type of quality running back the Wolverines have lacked since Mike Hart.

Jones is a particularly interesting signing. At Westland John Glenn, he was on a team that lost its first six games, most of them routs. It won its last three games, but against teams that won only one game combined. He was considered a Mid-American Conference-level recruit until drawing late interest. Is he a diamond-in-the-rough or a stretch? York was more touted at Chandler Park Academy in Harper Woods. It's difficult to get a gauge on him, as well. He played against mostly small-school competition. But the one thing Jones, York and Dukes all have in common is size. Jones and York are 6-3, and Dukes 6-5. They will present big targets, which has been missing since Rich Rodriguez recruited an inordinate number of short, small skill position players for Michigan. But are they refined enough to play right now? The need is there.

The Spartans recruiting class, ranked 35th-to-40th nationally depending on the source, is typically difficult to judge, if for no other reason than many of Mark Dantonio's best players were not above a 3-star ranking coming out of high school.

Le'Veon Bell, a tremendous college running back, was a 2-star. Keyshawn Martin, one of the better receivers and returners in the Big Ten until he was taken early in the NFL Draft by Houston, was a 3-star.

But what diamonds in the rough are there, especially at running back with Bell declaring for the NFL Draft and no apparent replacement in line?

The Spartans were in on running back Gerald Holmes early after he had an injury-riddled junior year. He was a considered a Mid-American Conference level recruit when they received a commitment from him. He proved the interest from MSU was justified as a senior at Flint Carman-Ainsworth. R.J. Shelton from Wisconsin is a faster back, with a different style than Holmes. Would it be a stretch for either to play right away. Both are rated as 3-star players.

It would have been considered a stretch for Bell a couple years ago, but he made an impact from Day 1 as a freshman.

The one thing about skill position players is their ultimate potential flashes sooner instead of later.

And the Wolverines and Spartans are in no position to wait based on what is returning.